ALLEN ESKEW, a New Orleans-based architect who died Tuesday at age 65, will be remembered for his key role in reshaping the city’s sports facilities and creating a new entertainment district, said DOUG THORNTON, SMG’s Senior VP at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Eskew, founder of Eskew Dumez Ripple, a 24-year-old firm, helped design renovations to the Superdome, as well as the master plan for upgrading New Orleans Arena. In addition, Eskew, a specialist in urban planning, designed and engineered Champions Square, the 113,000-square-foot outdoor hospitality space between the stadium and arena. On Monday, Thornton and Eskew were together in a meeting to discuss arena improvements with officials of the Saints and Pelicans. “I am in disbelief,” Thornton said. “It’s a tragic loss for New Orleans. He was a fantastic architect and a hard worker. We have been on a fast pace to put these latest improvements together and were talking Monday about having to work through the holidays for final design. He never said no. We would give him a deadline and he’d meet it. Allen added so much value to our lives and the city.” Sports designer PAUL GRIESEMER, a principal with AECOM, worked closely with Eskew over the past few years on the Superdome, New Orleans Arena and Champions Square projects. “Allen was a dear friend, great architect and collaborator,” Griesemer said.
